The Growing Awareness Of International Women’s Day
Warm, wonderful, and worldly. These adjectives describe the women in our lives. On March the 8th as we all gather to celebrate International Women’s Day, let us reflect on the progress that has been made by ordinary women with extraordinary talents all over the world. Women’s Day is not just about giving “women the day off from their womanly duties”. It’s a day of reflection, appreciation, and a chance to celebrate progress made by women all around the globe.
International Women’s Day has been celebrated since 1908, a decade that saw explosive population growth and radical changes in ideologies. Today IWD is considered as an official national holiday in countries such as Cuba, Russia, and Vietnam. It has become a tradition where women are honored by the males in their lives with gratitude, gifts, and kind gestures. This year’s Women’s Day is centered around the theme, “Equality for women, is progress for all”. According to the United Nations, women are powerful agents of change. When gender equality, human rights, and empowering opportunities are available to women, social and economic development is fully possible.
Many countries, particularly those that are part of the United Nations, celebrate Women’s Day with an entire day’s itinerary. For instance, in Australia this special day is celebrated with a special breakfast and luncheon. This is then followed by a series of activities such as fund raisers and games.
In Canada, Women’s Day is marked by various events such as museum exhibits showcasing female artists, arts and crafts fairs, charity fund raisers, and competitions. Outdoor concerts are another popular event, showcasing a whole host of female talents. Another unique Women’s Day celebration features comedy club events where female comedians are the highlights for the day.
The United Nations marks Women’s Day with a special conference which evaluates women’s progress in areas of employment, economics, and social development.
Many women hold “ladies only” parties on this day. These parties consist of a lunch or dinner, followed by a shopping spree or a relaxation session at a spa. Some ladies-only groups organize charity events such as fund raisers, toy drives, clothing collection, and food donations, which they amass and drop off at their nearest women’s shelters. An elegant version of this is a charity ball that requires an all female attendance dressed in ballroom attire. Some women hold sleepovers at each others’ homes. During these sleepovers, neither men nor children are allowed to enter the room. Women stay up the entire night with their friends, gossiping, eating taking out food, giving each other manicures and pedicures, and even watching a chick flick or two.
If you are blessed with wonderful women in your life, don’t forget to show your appreciation for them with small acts of gratitude. One of the best ways to appreciate your mother is by giving her the day off from her home responsibilities and doing it yourself. This means washing the dishes, cleaning the house and making the meals (at least for the day). Don’t forget that while you are doing the housework, send mom off for a day of beauty at her favorite salon or spa.
Men can make this day extra special by taking their wife and mother out for a special dinner, followed by a little shopping. For those of you who are strapped for cash, nothing works best than a genuine, heart-filled “thank you”. Husbands, who are also fathers, can encourage their children to make a special homemade gift for their mom that expresses their gratitude for everything that she does for them. This can be something as simple as a photograph with their mom, put in a special frame, art made by the children, a craft item, or even cookies made with daddy. Flowers are another great way to express appreciation and gratitude, but instead of roses, pick her favorites! You can also pair these flowers with a box of chocolates, but a diamond ring always works best.
From its inception in the early 1900s, to present day, Women’s Day is about celebrating being a woman. On a personal level it is about feeling appreciated and respected by your near and dear ones. On a national level, it is about having access to the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities, as all men do. On an international level, it is about making sure that women everywhere have access to the same rights and privileges as in developed countries. This is an ongoing challenge and hope for women everywhere!
Happy Women’s Day!